The World Dairy Summit is underway in Auckland, but the launch of the four-day long event has been marked by protest.

The Coalition Against the World Dairy Summit – a collection of animal rights and climate change groups – barracked outside the SkyCity events centre as more than 1300 delegates from 57 countries made their way inside.

Fonterra is the group’s primary target, but spokeswoman Claire Dann says there’s a broad scope within the movement.

“We’ve got people interested from all sorts of backgrounds coming in, animal rights groups, trade groups and climate change as well.

"So it’s a broad spectrum of groups and individuals getting involved."

Sustainability is one of the central themes of the summit, but Ms Dann says industry groups are merely paying lip service to the issue.

"Our point of view is that it’s all for show, it’s just talk."

"When you look at what they’re actually doing, for true sustainability, it doesn’t hold water at all.”

The conference kicked off with a dairy leaders’ forum on Monday afternoon, and continues with conferences and workshops until Thursday.

FONTERRA FORECAST STEADY

While Fonterra is in protestors’ sights at the World Dairy Summit, the co-operative had only good news for suppliers over the weekend.

It’s kept its forecast payout for the 2010-11 season at $6.60 per kilo of milk solids.

Many farmers were sweating on the announcement, expecting the climbing US exchange rate to force a downward revision.

Federated Farmers Dairy Chair Lachlan McKenzie says the steady forecast takes the pressure off suppliers.

“Everybody has been holding their breath to see what position Fonterra would be holding, and it’s good news that they’re sticking with their forecast.

"It goes to show that good food and nutrition is growing in popularity all over the world. People are starting to realise what is good food.”

Lachlan McKenzie is still urging farmers to be careful with investments. The Feds are working to a $2kg/MS in-season volatility on the payout.